Scunthorpe United suffered a miserable day at the office as they comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Sunderland.

The Black Cats had for too much for the Iron, with the home side racing into a 3-0 lead by half time.

Goals from Max Power, Josh Maja and Chris Maguire ended the contest after 45 minutes and although Scunthorpe tried to make a fist of it in the second half the home side comfortably rebuffed their efforts.

Scunthorpe made three changes from the side that started the Carabao Cup defeat to Doncaster.

Cameron Burgess, Andy Dales and Lewis Butroid came into the side in place of Rory McArdle, Ryan Colclough, who both dropped to the bench and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson who failed to recover from an injury picked up on Tuesday.

There was also a place on the substitutes bench for Funso Ojo, who had missed the last two games.

Sunderland started off quickly and had the first chance after only three minutes when Chris Maguire’s shot from the edge of the box had to be pushed behind by Rory Watson.

Scunthorpe contained their hosts well for the opening 10 minutes and had a big shout for a penalty when George Thomas was taken out by Jack Baldwin in the area but the referee was unmoved.

Play quietened down after that but 22 minutes in Sunderland took the lead.

Bryan Oviedo was afforded too much time to put a cross in and Power rose highest to head into the top corner.

One quickly became two as the Black Cats scored their second in three minutes.

Oviedo was again the provider as he slipped a ball to Maja who turned and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

Oviedo was causing the Scunthorpe defence all sorts of problems and Lund was booked for bringing the left back down on the edge of the area.

Maguire stepped up to strike the free kick but it was straight into the arms of Watson.

Sunderland were bossing the play and Scunthorpe were hanging on as Baldwin’s goalbound shot was deflected behind for a corner.

But the home side did go three up before the break with another good move.

Lynden Gooch got past Butroid on the right and his pull back into the centre was backheeled into the goal by Maguire.

The Iron looked to be a bit more positive at the start of the second half but it was still the home side that looked dangerous, with Power and Oviedo both going close with long range efforts.

But the Iron kept plugging away and James Perch unleashed a long range effort which Black Cats keeper Jon McLaughlin did well to get behind.

Manager Nick Daws brought on Stephen Humphrys and Funso Ojo in place of Andy Dales and Matty Lund in an attempt to try and salvage something from the game.

The game started to fizzle out with Sunderland comfortable although Scunthorpe started to put in some heavy challenges as frustration got the better of them.

The visitors almost pulled one back when Lee Novak flicked a header just over the bar following a free kick from Josh Morris.

That was the last involvement for Morris as he was replaced by Ryan Colclough.

Sunderland should have made it four in the last 10 minutes as Oviedo swung in a lovely cross which was headed into the path of Maja by Honeyman.

But the young striker screwed his shot horribly wide from close range with only Watson to beat.

Scunthorpe had a late chance when Humphrys fed Thomas who tried to square for Novak but the Sunderland defence got back to clear their lines.